Mobile delivery cart with vertically moveable inner frame

Abstract

A mobile delivery cart for the distribution of removable trays. The mobile delivery cart that is the object of this inventions contains a vertically moveable inner frame section which allows the loading and unloading of removable trays with decreased bending down and rising up. This also decreases the time needed for the loading and unloading of trays. The device includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The outer frame contains a plurality of tray supports in the top portion. The inner frame contains a plurality of tray supports. The inner frame is vertically mobile within the outer frame. The inner frame is moved to the top of the cart for loading and is loaded first. Once loading of the inner frame is completed it is moved to the bottom of the cart. The tray supports within the outer frame are then available to allow the upper portion of the cart to be loaded. Unloading is the reverse of loading. Because the two sections of the mobile cart that is the object of this invention are independent there is increased flexibility available to simultaneously transport a variety of items including those of different temperatures.

I claim:  
     
         1 ) The object of this invention is to decrease the bending and rising people need do to load and unload removable trays transported by a mobile cart. 
 a—The mobile cart is moved by users on appropriate casters.    b—The mobile cart may be self-propelled.    c—The mobile cart consists of an outer frame containing a vertically mobile inner frame.    d—The inner frame and upper portion of outer frame contain a plurality of tray supports.    e—The mobile cart outer frame tray supports do not obstruct vertical movement of the inner frame.    f—Individual trays are introduced through an opening in the top portion of the outer frame and front of the inner frame.    g—An appropriate mechanism may be added to assist and ease the vertical movement of the inner frame.    h—An appropriate method may be used to fix the inner frame in a desired position.    
     
     
         2 ) The object of this invention is to isolate two portions of one mobile cart increasing flexibility of use. 
 a. The inner frame may have insulated sides, top, bottom, back and front doors.    b. The inner frame may have heating elements.    c. The inner frame may have cooling elements.    d. The outer frame may have insulated sides, top, bottom, back and front doors.    e. The outer frame may have insulated sides, top, bottom, back and front doors of only its top portion    f. The outer frame may have heating elements.    g. The outer frame may have cooling elements.    h. The upper portion of the outer frame may be thermally isolated from the lower portion.    i. The inner and outer frame temperatures may be independently controlled.    
     
     
         3 ) Reference to  claim 1;  the object of this invention is to decrease the amount of time needed to load and unload trays from the cart.  
     
     
         4 ) Reference to  claim 2;  the object of this invention allows one mobile cart to be configured for more than one use. 
 a. The shelf heights can be different for the outer and inner frames.  
 b. The shelf strength and materials can be different for the outer and inner frames.  
 c. Both outer and inner frames can be independently heated and cooled.  
 d. Both outer and inner frames can be independently insulated.  
 e. The inner and outer frames can be used to transport items of different temperature and items of the same temperature.  
 f. The inner and outer frames can be used to transport items of different size and items of the same size.  
 g. The inner and outer frames can be used to transport items of different weight and items of the same weight.